Motion picture screen frame



Aug. 25` ESE. J. T. HECK MOTION PICTURE SCREEN FRAME Fild July 23, 192e 2 sheets-sheet 1 Wai Aug. 259 E33; J. T. HECK MTION PICTURE SCREEN FRAME Filed July 25, :1.928 2 Snees-sheet 2 In/enozf John Thomas/160A?.

Patented Aug. 2s, 1.931

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN THOMAS HECK', OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ABSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T0 DA-LITE SCREEN COMPANY, INC., F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS MOTION PICTURE SCREEN FRAME Application led July 28, 1928. Serial No. 294,908. i

My invention relates vto cinematograph screen supporting frames, and more particularl to an im roved portable cinematograplil of the kin described in U. S. Patent Number 1,800,627 issued April 14, 1931 to Fred P. Heck for improvements in motion picture screens and frames, the entire interest in same being vested in the common assignee of the present application,-the-D a Lite Screen Company, Inc., Chicago, I1l1no1s,

' a corporation of Illinois.

The object of my mvention lis to provide `an improved device of the kind described embodying certain desired features'in the line of a more stable supporting structure together with novel means for locking the frame in raised operative position and for permitting the immediate release of same to stored position within the container.

The invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter set forth with particularity in the specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the container wherein is housed my cinematograph screen supporting frame.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the frame and screen in raised operative position.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detailed view of the spring hinge mechanism employed, looking in the direction of the arrows on line 3--3 of 2. ig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 5. y

Fig. 5y is a cross section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the frame locking mechanism.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary top plan view of the details shown in Fig. 6.

In the drawings wherein similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views, A designates the portable container for my invention, the vcontainer comprising a lid 12'hin edly secured to the box member 13 by snap asteners 14, a handle grip 15 serving as means whereby the' container and its contents may be conveniently carried by hand.

In the interior of the case A, I rovide' a mounte on pivots 17, 18 seated in the sockets of bracket 19, 20, whereby the screen 21 may be conveniently wound and unwound from the roller 16 into inoperative and operative position respectively, it being understood that the ivot 17 which is secured in the bracket 19 unctions for the coiling and uncoiling of the spring (not shown) in the interior of the roller 16. l

The screen 21 at its upper end is suitably secured to a slat 22, fastened at its end to brackets 23, having perforations 23 to accommodate pins or bolts; screwed or otherwise suitably secured in the perforations 23 and 23, said pins or bolts serving as fulcrums and additional pairs of slightly elongated perforations or slots 24, which receive pins or bolts 24', the pins 24 and elongated perforations 24 permitting when the pins or bolts 24 are loosened to the extent of the lengths of the elongated perforations or slot 24 an angling adjustment of the bracket-s about the fulcrums 23" and consequentl adjustment of the screen in or er to remove creases, wrinkles, when necessary. The brackets 23 are pivotally connected by pins 25, 26 to the links 27, 28 which are joined by hinges 29, 30 to corresponding links 31, 32, connected to the bottom of the container additional hinges 33, 34. By inspection of permitting b Figs. 2 and 3 it will be observed that the lthe hinge elements in a manner tending to press the links 27,28 and 31, 32 into unfolded aligned position, as shown in Fig. 4.

The links 27 and 28, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 4 are joined by rods 36, 37, the inner ends of these rods being threaded to receive coupling members 36', 37 to which are threadedly joined the short rods 38, 39, the coupling members serving in the capacity of turn-buckles to shorten or lengthen the links 36, 37 with a view to the adjustment of the locking means now to be described. The short rods 38, 39 are joined to a locking trip link or lever 40 centrally secured to a stud shaft 41, the link when the links 27, 28, 31 and plane to the rods 36, 37, 38 and 39, the frame in this position being maintained comparatively secure, the springs 35, as best shown in Fig. 3 also aiding to maintain these links in upright position and to prevent vibration thereof.

In order to return the frame and screen to inoperative position within the container, I` employ a handle of special design 42 having a downwardly rojecting portion 43 on the end of which is fbrmed a U-shaped member 44, the convolutions of the latter being cent1-all perforated to receive the stud shaft 41 whic 1s fastened to the lever 40 whereby when the shaft 41 is mani ulated by the handle 42 secured thereon, tie lever 40 will swing out of alignment into the position shown in Fi". 2, thereby causing the unlocking ofthe 1in s 36, 37 and the consequent collapse and return of the frame and screen to the container, the spring actuated roller 16 drawing and'winding the screen. about its periphery. By inspection of Fig. 6 it will beseen that lost motion is provided by the handle 42, since the latter only performs its operative functions when the U-shaped member 44 is turned sufficiently to cause the engagement of the side thereof with a pin 46 secured at right angles in and projecting from the stud shaft.

The function and mode of operation of my invention has been in large measure indicated from the foregoing disclosure, but will be more fully understood by the following brief explanation When it is desired to use the screen 21 for film projection purposes, it will only be necessary to raise the lid 12, grasp the slat 22 on which the screen is fastened, and raise same to the position shown in Fig. 4, the links 27, 28, 31 and 32 then serving to securely maintain the screen in comparatively firm position in a manner to insure a practically non-vibrating back ground for the projected views. The springs as set forth above, aid in maintaining the links in parallel aligned position, the action of these springs becoming more energetic as the link 27, 28, 31, 32 approach an erect aligned position,- these links forming a tog le joint system. When the hand has raiser? the screen and supporting frame to almost its full height, the spring 35 practically snaps the frame into operative position, also swinging the trip lever into a horizontal position, thereby locking the frame in upright position, as explained above.

It will be observed that with a view to eradicating some of the small wrinkles or puckers which are formed in the screen and which occasionally remain even after the screen is erected into operative position, a slight adjustment of screen 21 may be made by loosening the pins or bolts 24', the first re.

of a cumbersome weighty construction,

which would of course negative the portable features desired. In the present improved device, I have found the construction disclosed provides a firm non-vibrating support for the screen While rmitting the raising of the device into loc ed operative position and the releasing therefrom conveniently and expeditiously.

It will be understood that the device is susceptible of variation and change Withoutdeparting from the spirit or sacrificing any of the, advantages of the construction set forth; hence I do not confine myself to the precise details as set forth, only in so far as they are circumscribed Within the scope of 4the appended claims.-

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the kind described, a cinematograph screen secured to and wound about a spring actuated roller, a supporting' slat attached to one end of said screen, a bracket mounted upon each end of said slat, a plrality of hinged links provided with spring means to swing said links into aligned position, a base member, said hinged links connected to said base member and said..

brackets, and tripping means to releasingly lock the screen in erect, operative position, each of said brackets being pivotally mounted upon said slat for varying the distance between said slat and said base member.

2. `In a device of the kind described,va-cine matograph screen mounted on a collapsible supporting frame including pairs of resiliently hinged links pivotally attached to a horizontally positioned slat having a plural.

ity of adjustable brackets, said brackets having pivotal adjustment on a fulcrum pin, whereby when said brackets are individually moved about the fulcrum pin as a pivot, the relative distance between the Slat and oppo. site screen support is varied.

3. A projection screen comprising, in combination, a base, a spring operated roller rotatably mounted upon said base, a slat member adapted to serve as an upper screen support, a flexible screen secured at one edge to said slat member and at the opposite edge to said roller, collapsible screen supporting members having continuous operative engagement with said slat member and with said base, means for maintaining said supporting members in extended position upon elevation of said slat member, and means connected to said supporting members for simuled to collapsing position.

4. A projectlon screen comprising, in combination, a base, a spring operated roller rotatably mounted upon said base, a slat member a apted to serve as an upper screen support, a flexible screen secured at one edge to said slat member and at the opposite edge to said roller, collapsible screen supporting members having continuous operative engagement with said slat member and with said base, means for maintaining said supporting members in extended position upon elevation of said slat member, a trip rod connected to one of said supportin members, a second trip rod connected to tlgme other of said supportin members, and means for shifting said trip rods toward each other for simultaneously moving said supporting members from extended to collapsingposition.

5. A projection screen comprislng, in combination, a base, a spring operated roller rotatabl mounted upon said base, a slat member a apted to serve as an upper screen support, a flexible screen` secured at one edge to said slat member and at the opposite edge to said roller, collapsible screen supporting members having continuous operative engagement with said slat member and with said base means for maintaining Said supporting members in extended position upon elevation of said slat member, a releasing lever pivotally mounted upon said slat member, a trip rod connected to said lever and l to one of said supporting members, and a second trip rod connected to said lever and to the other of said supporting members,

4whereby upon actuation of said lever said supporting members will be moved from extended to collapsing position.

6. A projection screen comprising, in combination, a base, a spring o erated roller rotatabl mounted upon said ase, a slat member a apted to serve as an upper screen support, a flexible screen secured at one edge to said slat member and at the opposite edge to said roller, collapsible screen supporting members having continuous operative engagement with said slat member and with said base, spring means for normally maintaining said supporting members in extended lposition upon elevation of said slat member, a releasing lever (pivotally mounted upon said l slat member, an tripping means connected to said supporting members and to' said lever and adapted upon actuation of said lever to move said supporting members from extended to collapsing position.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

JOHN THOMAS HECK. 

